The RemoveDebris satellite shortly after its June 2018 deployment from the ISS.

Earth has an orbital-junk problem. Dead satellites, rocket pieces and miscellaneous debris have collected around the planet and we need to figure out ways to clean it up. So how about about we go all Moby Dick on that space trash and spear it?

RemoveDebris - Satellite - Mid-2018 - ISS - Test

The RemoveDebris satellite, which launched in mid-2018 from the ISS, is a test bed for technologies that may be able to help us clean up space trash. It already showed it could catch junk with a Spider-Man-style net. Now it has successfully demonstrated it can spear a target with a harpoon.

The University of Surrey in the UK posted details of the Feb. 8 test on Friday and shared a slow-motion video of the harpoon in action.